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[center][img]https://media.giphy.com/media/jxxGyANc3HRicBmN7e/giphy.gif[/img][center][I][h3][color=4169E1]Success is not final, failure is not fatal: 
it is the courage to continue that counts.
[/color][/h3][/I][color=4169E1]- [I]Winston Churchill[/I][/color][/center]

[/center][hr][center][b][color=4169E1]Location:[/color][/b] The Castle - Hallway outside the attic
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	As Lyra followed in behind the others, she ran it over and over again in her head. Perhaps if she had worded things differently, used softer verbiage, it would have been better received? Then again, softer didn't necessarily mean better. It could've very well just made it easier to brush off. Perhaps this. Perhaps that. Her self-criticism was just taking her down paths that ultimately lead to dead ends. It was what it was. She did what she felt she had to in the moment. Though the results weren't entirely satisfactory, the objective was complete nonetheless. Unfortunately, you can't always get the best of both worlds. 

	She was abruptly pulled out of her self-reflection and back into the present at the sound of Prince Myrus screaming. Her muscles tensed in anticipation for some sort of conflict, but she otherwise held her ground until that moment presented itself. The prince wasn't completely himself right now, as such she was uncertain of what he was truly capable of. She watched him closely, flinching a bit as Skaoi brought him into a hug in much the same manner as the Queen had recklessly done. Speaking of the Queen, her gaze hesitantly turned away from Myrus over to Valda as the woman addressed her. 

	Her composure broke, if for the moment, her face falling and a breath of seeming disbelief leaving her lips. However, as her breath came back in sharply, she regained her composure, lifting her chin a touch and steeling herself. The Queen demoting her, punishing her, truly stung. She thought they were friends, but apparently she had been gravely mistaken. She had gotten too relaxed in her duties, and it was clear now that friendship couldn't fit into the equation. [color=4169E1]"Forgive me, Your Highnesses, for causing offense, but I did what I believed I had to in order to keep you both safe, to keep anyone else I care about from dying today. That is--[I]or was[/I]--my job, was it not?[/color] she responded, glancing between Valda and Myrus. [color=4169E1]"I will do as you wish, of course."[/color] She then turned to Skaoi, lacing her hands in front of her and keeping her features as blank as possible so as to hide how truly hurt she was on the inside.
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[hr][hr][center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180826/fa80dcc0f6812be7d2ef7b872cfcf567.png[/img][/center]
[center][img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/a36908b012c6be9204f3a292283dc6a4/tumblr_of1ipwzvy11rynazlo1_500.gif[/img][center][I][h3][color=6A5ACD]Fate throws fortune, but not everyone catches.
[/color][/h3][/I][color=6A5ACD]- [I]Polish Proverb[/I][/color][/center]

[/center][hr][center][b][color=6A5ACD]Location:[/color][/b] The Castle - Hallway heading away from the Infirmary 
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	Tristan's gaze came back up to meet Luna's, and he was taken aback by the emotion in her countenance and the shakiness in her voice. His blue eyes took in her features for a moment. The harshness and accusatory nature of his words had hurt her, that much he could deduce. His lips thinned. He had opened his big mouth and taken his pain out on her, and though the words she had spoken earlier had wounded him, it certainly didn't give him a right to be an ass. He was suppose to be building an alliance with her, not creating wedges. 

	[color=6A5ACD]"Alright,"[/color] he replied softly, nodding his head. [color=6A5ACD]"I'll hear you out."[/color] No sooner had he spoken the words did he hear a loud scream. His head snapped to the side, but then he felt a tug on his sword, garnering his attention. The little fiend really was trying to steal his sword! He gritted his teeth, giving a tug on [I]his[/I] sword. [color=6A5ACD]"Scram, you little, you little, [I]argh![/I]"[/color]